Joy

The Dreughan #3

by Lena North

I’ve already killed for my family, and I’d do it again, without remorse.

I am Troy, the happy young man full of joy and laughter. The harmless one, who can send arrows into the heart of a traitor with deadly precision.

When my Dreughan family sends a group of people to Pantano, the main village of the Waterfolk, I was selected to go with them. I was excited to go because I’ve longed to see the great waters, but things end up a little more complicated than I thought.

It turns out that, whether I like it or not, I have more than one family.

I was having a good time with the Waterfolk together with my warrior friend Mal and Drake’s pretty sister Rinna, when we started to suspect that someone deliberately tries to re-kindle the war. Then I must risk everything, and if I succeed it will help end the war once and for all, but as family and friends turn their back on me, it looks like I’ll have to pay a high price…

Troy’s story about laughter, courage and sacrifice is the third and final book in the Dreughan trilogy, set in a medieval fantasy world from a thousand years ago. It’s a story about a young man’s willingness to die for the ones he loves as he fights to find a place to call home and a family that is his.

The Dreughan trilogy can be read standalone, but it’s also the starting point for Ms. North’s Urban Fantasy series "Birds of a Feather".

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Dragons, Adventure, Young Adult Paranormal, Young Adult Fantasy, Teen

209 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 30, 2015

About the author

The proper way to put it here would probably be to describe how I love to play with our two big dogs, how much I adore my fantastic daughters and how much I love to read.

Another way would be to use my imagination and then I would be a super powerful warrior woman, think Xena the warrior princess (though with less tacky clothes). Or when I think of it, maybe I’m actually more of a Hercule Poirot (sans the suit and moustache). Or maybe I’m like Aragorn, strong and cool and then I might get to meet Gandalf! Or I could be Bella’s pretty cousin and snap Jacob up in a second (yeah, I’m so not team Edward), or wait, maybe I could be like one of them heroines in historical novels who swoon all the time. I’ve always wanted to swoon…

Well, I guess you get how my mind is working (or not working, some say).

Anyways, I like to write. Stories, adventures, romantic and happy stuff mixed up with sorrow and hardship, and bit of laughter here and there because the way I see it – life is way too short to go around feeling grumpy.

Reviews

[Elizabeth Dragina · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 stars ~

Ugh. The drama. The content. The characters.

And that ending hurt.

Buckle down for another rant-filled review . . . my anger toward this trilogy has now come to its conclusion and I'm ready to spill over.

Let me explain a bit about the first two books and my reactions toward them. Vilda and her story Courage was amazing. I was in love. I was laughing so hard so many times and awed by the suspense and mystical abilities. I loved the world building and characters. It was one of those books that gave off inspiration in chunks and made you feel like you belonged in their tight knit family.

Susannah and her story Reason immediately started giving me bad vibes. I was so excited to read it and love the characters that much more...and my favorite trope (enemies to lovers) promised good things. It didn't even come close to fulfilling my expectations. The MC's who were hard core enemies in the first book became friends within the first chapter. Everything I hoped for began to crumble. Then the action was just drama...the characters I loved turned into adults (or teens) who acted like children...throwing temper tantrums if they didn't get their way. The way the MC's perspective rubbed off on me was awful....she looked at everyone like she was the only one who could take out the bad guys and be strong. She didn't stay true to her character....and all the other characters just went along with the whole thing, making me believe that now Susannah was the only one who could save them....just as Vilda had been in the first book.

Troy and his story Joy made me mad. Now all the sudden he's the only one who can understand things correctly. He's the strong one and everyone else started acting like babies. Then all the strong plot twists became weak as the drama increased, because we find out that they knew all along about certain things. We find out amazing victories in the first two books were just "staged" and then Vilda and Susannah's amazing-ness dissipated. None of the characters could keep their personality straight. The motive behind certain emotions (like anger...which was used in an overabundance) didn't make any sense. The World Building has stayed amazing and so has the mystical abilities, but the action was swapped for drama it seemed. Everything was super convenient...and no one important died (hardly anyone died....😾). The answers to everything were basically thrown in their faces....and the bad guys literally came up to them to die. -_- This books basically runs on drama and world building. I HATE IT. The only reason it's not .5 stars is because I laughed once...and the connection I felt to the characters once upon a time.

Honestly the characters aren't consistent to their personality. Each book--because the perspective changed--the MC then became the most important of the three "friend/siblings". He/She then swayed the other characters awe, respect, and admiration to them rather then those side characters sticking to the first person.

*sighs* 😑😔 I don't know if that all makes sense....I'm just trying to express my utter horror at such lack in the author's finesse. She did so good in the beginning....keeping the content low and the characters amazing.

**Content Warning** Lots of bad language and crud humor... Sh*t is used far to often by every character. Lots of nudity...and sexual scenes...or suggestive sexual scenes. Each book increases tenfold. *shakes head* The logic of their choices doesn't always make sense....and the violence is bad.

There. I have finished the rant. *rereads it all* *feels like I have said enough*

*wipes hands on pants*

Overall ~ This book sucks. This series is a meh.

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

He can lighten hearts and the strained moments with his wit and charm. He can also kill with deadly precision and he will. Troy’s is the third heart that beats in sync with Vilma and Susannah’s. Loyal to a fault and the easy going joker, life has uncovered the secrets of his heritage and finally given him a blood family, but life never makes things easy and his heart’s journey “home” will be treacherous and painful, if he survives. He will trade his own life to save the lives of those he calls family as well as the thousand unknown faces trapped in a war that someone wants to re-kindle.

It’s time for his heart to find a safe haven, a woman to belong to for eternity. It’s time for Troy to find Joy and author Lena North is just the one to show him the way, but not without consequences and the true tests of loyalty, love and honor as he shows the world what he is made of behind that crooked smirk.

I felt this tale in my heart, it vibrated in my soul as Troy secretly takes on a mission to find a traitor, a band of cold-blooded killers that will shake the very core of all he treasures. Only one woman will continue to believe in him as one by one, family and friends turn their back on him, leaving him banished and without the home he thought he had found. I could have cried, I got angry and disgusted and I could almost hear the music of each event, particularly the soulful notes of betrayal, as well as the swells of Joy that became the highs in a tale rich with vivid scenes, truly realistic characters and the search for one’s identity. Lena North is a master story-teller who can write humor and heart as easily as she writes darkness and pain. And her endings? Perfect!

I received an ARC edition from Lena North in exchange for my honest review.

Series: The Dreughan - Book 3
Publisher: Flat-out; 2 edition (September 30, 2015)
Publication Date: September 30, 2015
Genre: YA Fantasy
Print Length: 231 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in the series and it is told from Troy's perspective. It's truly a remarkable book because we learned about Vilda and Susannah in the first two books and now we get to hear about Troy and how he truly feels. I love the fact that he finds out that he has a family with the waterfolk. I really did enjoy this book and would recommend this book to anyone that wants to read about love, friendship, and the bonds that can be build by friends. I received this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

[April Mathes · Rating 4 out of 5]

so I loved how Troy and Rinna acted towards each other. she always knew he was the one even though he acted like a turd. Their chemistry helped them in the way they handled situations as well as just went on with their lives. When at the end Troy has Not one Two but THREE families its really sweet. The family he grew up with, the family he was suppose to have had and then the family he made. Troy thinks things thoroughly and is quick to find the answers to problems. This book was pretty awesome!

[Aldis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joy is Troy's stoey, book 3 of the Dreughan. He finds out that his father was one of the Waterfolk, and that he is one of the dead king's bastards. Add to this a plot to keep the war between the dreughan and the Waterfolk going, and I was hooked. He juggles romance with a girl he is forbidden to have, deadly accidents following him, and the question of who he can trust, and then he loses it all. I could not stop reading, and I wish there were a book 4. I don't want to leave this world.

[Seraphia Bunny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joy by Lena North is book 3 in her The Creughan series. In this book the story is told from Troy's perspective as he learns that he has family with the Waterfolk who have been fighting the Dreughan for years. At first he is beyond determined to care for them or allow them into his heart when he realizes that Val looks very much like him and others see it too. But as he spends time with Val, his woman and several of the other Waterfolk he find that his heart has room to care for them as well. But while he is with the Waterfolk during an exchange he learns through his own experiences that somne does not want the war to stop. Someone in the villages wants the war to continue but why? Most are ready for peace so why do these wish for it to continue? Will Troy and the others be able to find out who the culprits are or will the war continue on without end only more blood shed?
I really enjoyed reading this book. Troy is so humorous and does his best to try and keep the moods light but he also shows his more serious side too which I really liked. This story is really dynamic as it brings in Troy's other family. He claims the girls as his sisters but then he also learns to embrace his Waterfolk family. He's strong but his heart is soft which makes him a really good guy. He finally acknowledges his love for Rinna which is good. A lot of things are brought to light but this book is really good.
The only negative that I would have concerned this book would be...the underage sex that ends up going on. I just don't think that it's appropriate because of the fact that they are so young! I know that they are teenagers and older teens but still...the fact that the others were told "wait until you are 17 for the joining ceremony" then I feel that regardless Troy should have waited until Rinna is older. Also, I didn't like how near the end there is a huge jump in the timeline. You don't realize it until other characters are described and brought it then you have to piece it together. I would have preferred if there had been "and so many years later" so that we'd know that there is such a dynamic transition.
Despite these two issues that I had with the book I have to say that I still thoroughly enjoyed it. I laughed out loud, I smiled, I frowned and even shed a tear or two. So I give this book two thumbs up.

[Merissa (Archaeolibrarian) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joy is the third and final book in the Dreughan series, and this time it is Troy's turn. I have been waiting for his story, because he has shown hints of not being the 'clown' all the time, and I couldn't wait to see deeper into his character. Let me just say, I was NOT disappointed.

Not only do we see more of Troy, and how he feels about Vilda and Sannah, but we also see more about who he is, how he works, and just what he will do for those he calls family. I am happy to say Valerian is his brother, so we get more of him. We see Troy really coming into his own, with the full and complete support of Rinna backing him up.

This amazing story would get more than 5 out of 5 if I could, but I don't think you can do 6 or more stars out of 5. I was sobbing throughout parts of this story, the emotions were there and would not be denied. The epilogue just about killed me, it was sheer perfection.

I have said throughout this series, that there have been errors. Just simple ones like words being misspelt, or the wrong group being blamed for a murder, but I have to emphasise to you - THIS DID NOT MATTER. Yes, I noticed them, and then I dismissed them, as I was too wrapped up in the characters and the story.

This is a spectacular ending to this series, and lucky me, I have the Birds of a Feather series to read next. I bought this series on the back of ONE book by this author, and I am so glad I did. It is money well-spent in my opinion. I have loved the world she has built, the characters who have grown so much, and of course - Dragons!

* Verified Purchase ~ July 2018. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Nov 13, 2018

[Isis Ray-sisco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joy is another great book by Lena North. It is the third book in the Dreughan series. I really enjoyed this one as much as I did Reason the previous installment in the series. I liked Troy's character. He was interesting. Joy starts where Reason ended with the characters trying to end the war between the Dreughan and the Waterfolk. It is full of action, romance, mystery and intrigue. Troy is trying to figure out who he is in the middle of everything. He ends up having more family than he bargained for and that creates more complications than he expected. He must figure out who he can trust while he tries and figures out who wants the war to continue. Along the way he finds his true love and his true identity. Joy is a great conclusion to the Dreughan series. I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys YA fantasy romance reads. I would also recommend reading the previous books in the series before reading Joy. I look forward to seeing how everything started in the first book once I get my hands on it.

[Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome story! I enjoyed this one so much....it's a great continuation of the Dreughan series. This book focuses on the young man Troy. He is full of laughter and good cheer, and is the joy in the lives of his family and friends. When he discovers he has a half brother in another village, he seeks to find out more about his kin. It's an intense story in the midst of war between the different lands of people. I thought this book really explained the lands and people in a more detailed way than even the other two books in the series, and it made for some good reading when the different groups are trying to find a way for peace. It's a great mix of emotions and relationships between the friends and family. And it was so sweet the romance when Troy finds his fated love. I liked this one a lot, and hated to see it end. The people are so down to earth, and Troy has such wisdom when it comes to leading. I highly recommend this book, and the rest of the series. Looking forward to more from the author Lena North.

[Carole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 3rd and last book in the series. It deals mainly with Troy and his friends.
There is plenty of action and romance follows. It is amazing to see how the relationships
develope and how they all work together to get over differences and problems.
Of course there is the usual intrigue of who did what. Mysteries have to be solved along
with undiscovered family to be revealed.
The whole series was very entertaining, and the author kept me spellbound throughout
the 3 books.
There is some romance in the book, but very PG. It mainly deals with relationships and
forgiveness.
I like how the author ended the book by fast forwarding into the future.
This series will not disappoint. I found Troy to be my favourite out of all the characters.

[Karyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the third book, and as I had enjoyed the previous two, I thought I'd love this one too. I didn't care for it as much though. There were several reasons for this. First, the main character in this book was a guy, which is fine, but the voice didn't feel as authentic as the female main characters in the other two books. Second, everyone kept speaking in a very modern way, which felt jarring, given that the setting wasn't the post-apocolyptic world I had assumed at first. This was a fantasy setting, and the characters conversed like modern teens.

[Kira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lena North did it again in the third and final story of the Dreughan series. Following Troy's story now, it was nice to see this world from a males perspective as the first two books followed the girls. Troy is such a funny character. And I love his relationship with Vilda and Sannah as this big brother type. It's just so cute to see. The story itself was full of page turning action, and much like the other two books, I couldn't stop reading! The characters, world, and the story itself was truly a delight to read and I enjoyed every minute of this three book series.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing. This is troys story. He builds a relationship with his brother and along the way faces he encounters some dangerous situations. I love his relationship with kitty, and how Troy grows up and finds his place. There are some great surprises, some really big betrayals and secrets revealed. I really really enjoyed reading this book. Lena North did a great job. Full video review on YouTube channel Adventures-IN-Print. https://youtu.be/ZsSU86GRuWA

[Rosemary Lekman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first experience with Lena North and i am glad i did. Now i look forward to reading more. This is an exciting and intriguing story. I really enjoyed it. And Troy was my favorite character. Its different and unique.

[Danielle Brewster · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've forgotten to rate this boo from a few months back. Troy's story was amazing. The ending was just so perfect. I want more. Thank you Lena for sending me this series.